diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/AGENTS.md b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/AGENTS.md
index 7adfec816..adc2e90d5 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/AGENTS.md
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/AGENTS.md
@@ -87,6 +87,17 @@ Design and build the StellaOps web user experience that surfaces backend capabil
 - 4. Coordinate doc updates, tests, and cross-guild communication whenever contracts or workflows change.
 - 5. Revert to `TODO` if you pause the task without shipping changes; leave notes in commit/PR descriptions for context.
 
+## No Mockups Convention (MANDATORY)
+
+All UI components **must** connect to real backend API endpoints. Never use `window.confirm()`, mock data services, or stub implementations unless explicitly requested by the product owner.
+
+**Rules:**
+- Every button, form submission, and action handler must call a real API endpoint
+- If the backend endpoint doesn't exist yet, mark the task `BLOCKED` — do not create a mock
+- The in-memory mock clients (e.g., `InMemoryApprovalClient`) exist ONLY for `ng serve` without backends, never as production implementations
+- Error states from API failures must be surfaced to the user (never silently swallow errors)
+- If an API returns 404/500, show the error in a banner or toast — don't pretend the action succeeded
+
 ## Destructive Action Convention (MANDATORY)
 
 All destructive actions (delete, revoke, purge, reset) **must** use `<app-confirm-dialog>` — never `window.confirm()` or unguarded inline handlers.
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/core/api/approval.client.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/core/api/approval.client.ts
index f3686f45f..37352ecfb 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/core/api/approval.client.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/core/api/approval.client.ts
@@ -32,8 +32,8 @@ export interface ApprovalApi {
 @Injectable()
 export class ApprovalHttpClient implements ApprovalApi {
   private readonly http = inject(HttpClient);
-  private readonly queueBaseUrl = '/api/v2/releases/approvals';
-  private readonly detailBaseUrl = '/api/v1/approvals';
+  private readonly queueBaseUrl = '/api/v1/release-orchestrator/approvals';
+  private readonly detailBaseUrl = '/api/v1/release-orchestrator/approvals';
 
   listApprovals(filter?: ApprovalFilter): Observable<ApprovalRequest[]> {
     const params: Record<string, string> = {};
@@ -78,20 +78,16 @@ export class ApprovalHttpClient implements ApprovalApi {
   }
 
   approve(id: string, comment: string): Observable<ApprovalDetail> {
-    return this.http.post<any>(`${this.detailBaseUrl}/${id}/decision`, {
-      action: 'approve',
+    return this.http.post<any>(`${this.detailBaseUrl}/${id}/approve`, {
       comment,
-      actor: 'ui-operator',
     }).pipe(
       map(row => this.mapV2ApprovalDetail(row))
     );
   }
 
   reject(id: string, comment: string): Observable<ApprovalDetail> {
-    return this.http.post<any>(`${this.detailBaseUrl}/${id}/decision`, {
-      action: 'reject',
+    return this.http.post<any>(`${this.detailBaseUrl}/${id}/reject`, {
       comment,
-      actor: 'ui-operator',
     }).pipe(
       map(row => this.mapV2ApprovalDetail(row))
     );
diff --git a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/releases/releases-activity.component.ts b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/releases/releases-activity.component.ts
index 6026d28af..8efb64d2a 100644
--- a/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/releases/releases-activity.component.ts
+++ b/src/Web/StellaOps.Web/src/app/features/releases/releases-activity.component.ts
@@ -72,7 +72,7 @@ function deriveOutcomeIcon(status: string): string {
 
       <!-- Pending approvals inline lane (dashboard-style action cards) -->
       @if (pendingApprovals().length > 0 && viewMode() !== 'approvals') {
-        <div class="pending-lane">
+        <div class="pending-lane" [class.pending-lane--exiting]="pendingLaneExiting()">
           <div class="pending-lane__header">
             <h2 class="pending-lane__title">
               <svg width="16" height="16" viewBox="0 0 24 24" fill="none" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="2" stroke-linecap="round" aria-hidden="true">
@@ -390,7 +390,10 @@ function deriveOutcomeIcon(status: string): string {
 
     .apc__status-row{display:flex;gap:.35rem;padding:0 .6rem .45rem;flex-wrap:wrap}
 
-    .pending-lane{margin-bottom:1rem;padding:1rem;border:1px solid var(--color-status-warning-border);border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:var(--color-status-warning-bg)}
+    .pending-lane{margin-bottom:1rem;padding:1rem;border:1px solid var(--color-status-warning-border);border-radius:var(--radius-lg);background:var(--color-status-warning-bg);animation:lane-enter 300ms ease-out both;overflow:hidden}
+    .pending-lane--exiting{animation:lane-exit 250ms ease-in forwards}
+    @keyframes lane-enter{from{opacity:0;max-height:0;padding:0;margin:0;border-width:0}to{opacity:1;max-height:500px}}
+    @keyframes lane-exit{from{opacity:1;max-height:500px}to{opacity:0;max-height:0;padding:0;margin:0;border-width:0}}
     .pending-lane__header{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin-bottom:.75rem}
     .pending-lane__title{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:.5rem;margin:0;font-size:.9rem;font-weight:600;color:var(--color-status-warning-text)}
     .pending-lane__link{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:.25rem;background:none;border:none;font-size:.8rem;font-weight:500;color:var(--color-status-warning-text);cursor:pointer;text-decoration:underline;text-underline-offset:2px}
@@ -729,7 +732,20 @@ export class ReleasesActivityComponent implements OnInit, OnDestroy {
     return parsed.toLocaleString(this.dateFmt.locale(), { month: 'short', day: 'numeric', hour: '2-digit', minute: '2-digit' });
   }
 
+  readonly pendingLaneExiting = signal(false);
+
   onTabChange(tab: string): void {
+    // Animate pending lane out before switching to approvals
+    if (tab === 'approvals' && this.pendingApprovals().length > 0 && this.viewMode() !== 'approvals') {
+      this.pendingLaneExiting.set(true);
+      setTimeout(() => {
+        this.pendingLaneExiting.set(false);
+        this.viewMode.set('approvals');
+        this.loadApprovals();
+        this.applyFilters();
+      }, 250);
+      return;
+    }
     this.viewMode.set(tab as 'timeline' | 'approvals');
     if (tab === 'approvals') this.loadApprovals();
     this.applyFilters();